
Fifteen people have become Freemen and Freewomen of the Lancaster and Morecambe district.
The new Freemen and Freewomen are:
Stuart Paul Akister, Patricia Hazel Beckett, Jack Thomas Clear, John Cornthwaite, Amanda Jayne Gardner, Catherine Marie Greenbank, Phillip Luke Martin, Ellis James Metcalfe, Peter Milward, Damien Michael Murphy, Nicholas John Rawes, Kevin John Smith, Alison Elizabeth Townley, Eleanor Jane Weston, Deirdre Anne Wilkinson.
Traditionally the honour of becoming a Freeman carried a number of privileges including the right to ‘pasture a limited number of beasts’ on the Marsh, to enter the city free from the payment of tolls and also to bring goods through toll gates for sale at the Lancaster Market.
Nowadays the role carries few rights, but remains popular amongst those who are proud of their heritage.
Both men and women are eligible to apply if they meet one of the following criteria:
• To be the son or daughter of a Freeman or Freewoman.
• To have served an apprenticeship to a Freeman or Freewoman of the City for a period of seven years.
• To have been born within the old city boundaries.
• To have lived within the old city boundaries for a period of seven consecutive years.
In each case, the applicant has to be at least 16 years of age.